Leviticus 9:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moreover, when someone was to be anointed, the grace of the Holy Spirit descended upon the oil, performed by the prophets, often accompanied by a cloud of glory that enveloped the sanctuary. Thus, to prevent the Jews from attributing their subjugation solely to human actions, God permitted not only the downfall of the city and the temple's destruction but also the withdrawal of heavenly signs, such as the fire, the voice, and the radiance of the stones. Therefore, when a Jew claims, “People have turned against us, people have done wrong,” respond by saying that such rebellion would not have occurred had God not allowed it. Men may have breached your defenses, but did they prevent the heavenly fire from descending? Was it humanity that silenced the voice heard from the sanctuary? Did they erase the revelation upon the stones, the sacred anointing, and all the other signs? Was it not God who allowed these to cease? This is evident to all. Why was this done? Is it not clear that it resulted from His wrath and deep displeasure towards you? You might argue otherwise, claiming that you lack resources, but why is that? Is it not because God has abandoned you?

In a similar manner, He offered Himself like a ram whose aroma was pleasing, becoming our sacrifice of salvation, sanctifying us with His own blood, and serving as a semidalis, flour mingled with oil, in the joy of holy living, revealing Himself to both us and the Father. Palladius. I see your point. Cyril. I believe this sacrifice for Aaron and the people beautifully symbolizes the dedication of the saints to God. When Immanuel, through whom we are called to holiness, is ultimately revealed, we become pleasing and holy, consecrated in a fragrant offering to the Father. Note that although the consecration of the priests, as previously mentioned, was according to the law, it is by Him (Immanuel) that they are re-sanctified in various ways. He was offered outside the camp as a bullock for sin, and burned like a ram in a manner that honored all. He anointed them with His blood as the ram of salvation. When the eighth day arrived, a day when the glory of Christ was particularly evident—bringing an end to death and the decay that it brings—the priests and the people presented their offerings not through other gifts or by outwardly appealing to the Lord of all, as the Israelites did according to the flesh, but by offering themselves as a fragrant sacrifice. In these offerings, we metaphorically present our own souls to God, choosing to die to the world and to its wisdom, submitting ourselves to the mortification of our passions, and drawing close to Christ. This allows us to transition into a life that is holy and blameless, living in accordance with His will. As the Apostle Paul expresses, “We always bear in the body the deadness of the Lord Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10). He also states, “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:12); and “if we have been united with Him in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection” (Rom. 6:5; cf. Phil. 3:10–21). “Jesus therefore, that he might sanctify men by his blood, suffered outside the gate,” as the blessed Paul said (Heb. 13:12); “Let us therefore go out to him beyond the camp, bearing his reproach” (Heb. 13:13). Just as the bullock is extinguished and the ram is consumed, we offer our lives in Christ as a fragrant aroma to God. These offerings pertain to Aaron and his descendants; however, the offering for the people is a goat presented for sin. Why is this the case, since a bullock was offered for the priests’ purification? All matters concerning the priests take precedence: both the sacrifices and those related to their purification and consecration. For example, the bullock, being larger than the goat, symbolizes the spiritual superiority of these offerings. The calf and the lamb for burnt offerings mystically represent the immature faith of those being sanctified. The ox and the ram signify endurance and courage, as well as the embodiment of gentleness; the ox represents endurance and the ram symbolizes gentleness. The wheat flour combined with oil indicates the bright hope for life in Christ: we should cling not to the sorrowful or mournful, but to the joyful and delighted, embracing the presence of Christ (Ps. 94:1). Just as the glory of Christ shines joyfully in receiving the offerings of the saints, so too did God appear in fire, consuming the sacrifices. It is as if He regards the glorification of those sanctified by faith as a source of sustenance and delight. His actions signify something profound: God sent down fire upon the parts of the sacrifice, reflecting His divine essence. However, now, when a spiritual offering is presented to Him, He, no longer appearing as fire, but through the Holy Spirit, touches the offering, imparting life to those who wish to partake in it. This truth we accept by faith. Palladius. You have spoken wisely. Cyril. Aaron raised his hands to bless the people. Notice this initial laying on of Aaron's hands; the true Aaron blesses all, both priests and people, “the little ones with the great,” as Scripture states (Psalms 113:21), with a gentle laying on of hands, serving as a symbol of the Holy Spirit descending upon us. Before Aaron’s priesthood, the laying on of hands did not occur; “the Holy Spirit was not yet given” as John noted, “because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39).